3 huskies in ice. Latest commission. This one took quite a while because I wasn't doing just faces which is always easier and faster since it's largely dependent on fur detail and not as much on accurate anatomy.

I included the references for each dog that have the pose I chose to go with. Sticking closely to reference images helps me make sure that I get "that specific dog" correctly since each of these are an owned, loved dog and commissioned by their family - if I make a mistake, they will notice. I'm not just trying to paint a husky but a very specific husky .

I have gotten things wrong before - like when I wanted to paint this particular malamute running so I got a rference for a running malamute to base my sketch off of but turns out that malamute had a dwarfism that is common in malamutes but that I did not notice. So while that picture was painted to look exactly like their malamute (coloration and such) the proportions were a tiny bit off and someone called me out on it lol. So I largely try to stick to references provided now to make my life easier- though you'll see if you study it that I have made alterations to them a bit.

Interesting mistakes I have made in the past: stripe on the wrong side of a husky's nose, painted a pup with one nostril open and one closed (I have no idea how that happened), forgot the whiskers on a couple kitties in a painting, painted the same dog twice in a 3 dog portrait (I had pictures of the dogs through the ages and managed to paint a younger and older version of the same dog thinking they were different), and painted the tail wrongly on an akita - but all of these mistakes were pointed out by their fur parents and fixed

I have a nice set of brushes for fur. they are amazing. But I'd like to do a more detailed tutorial. For teht ime being, however, I have a folderhere on dAcalled "My Method" and it shows step by step how I do my animal art. But it's over a year old now.

It's been so long since I painted this one I don't rememer if I thought the other dog was a mal at the time or not. But I had a great time painting this one and it's popular at the art shows Thank you very much and it's cool that you know the dogs. I don't ever get to meet most of them. Maybe 2 of all the hundreds of portraits I've done are dogs I know personally (not counting my own pups of course)

Awesome I hope you do! It does get tiring. Sometimes, though, I get lucky. If someone orders a husky head it might only take me an hour to paint (because I've done so many of those that it's like... I can paint them with my brain off lol) Not true of all my commissions for sure. Horses took almost two days.

I have been following your advice and trying to do a drawing every day. Haha wow straight from your brain, that must be incredible. I always need a photo to draw something well. Ah horses are hard, I don't know why, maybe their bone structure, but I can count on one hand how many I've drawn You know you're such an amazing artist I feel honoured you even writing to me

I never want to be so stuck up that I feel like I shouldn't have to talk to otehr artists. I want to always be here to help any artist any time no matter what level they are at. I think it's important we work as a community. How have your daily drawings been going?

Aww that's really nice. They have reached a bit of a halt sadly cause I've been feeling really ill and have hardly drawn anything but I"m starting to pick up and will try and do a drawing again. I just saw your latest works of art and they are amazing. I love that one you did a few days ago of a husky puppy, it was so real it could have been a photo. You're amazing.

wow, these are awesome you never stop to impress meI love the fluffy tail on the black one and i just simply love the looks of the first one (the shy one) he's so cutegreat painting, all of them are really great